Shoe bottom heel portion

Abstract

In a shoe bottom heel portion, an upper midsole of a heel portion includes a central bulge and peripherally arranged pillars, a lower midsole includes a central mound opposing the bulge and peripherally arranged sockets receiving said pillars, and a thin, stiff shank extending rearward from the arch portion of the shoe bottom is bonded to the central bulge and to the central mound. Cavities are formed surrounding the central mound and openings are formed between the contacts. Through bending as well as compression, the upper and lower midsole and the shank cooperate to absorb impact. Optionally, the contacts are simplified and flattened. Optionally, the shank is omitted. Optionally, either of the mound and the bulge is omitted or substituted for the other.

1 . A shoe bottom heel portion, comprising of: 
 an upper midsole forming a central bulge;    a lower midsole forming a central mound;    a shank bonded to said central bulge and to said central mound;    and    a plurality of contacts of said upper midsole with said lower midsole, said contacts being arranged peripherally, said contacts including projections of one of said upper midsole and said lower midsole and indentations of the other of said upper midsole and said lower midsole, whereby said indentations receive respective ones of said projections.    
     
     
         2 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper midsole has a first edge, said lower midsole has a second edge, and said second edge at least partially surrounds and embraces said first edge.  
     
     
         3 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said contacts are substantially permanent.  
     
     
         4 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said contacts are adhesive.  
     
     
         5 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes an injection or compression molded portion.  
     
     
         6 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes a piece formed of EVA or TPU.  
     
     
         7 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said upper midsole is formed of EVA of approximately 65 shore C durometer hardness, and said lower midsole is formed of TPU.  
     
     
         8 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said contacts includes a load transferring area surrounding said indentation and said projection thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms intermediate said contacts, thereby forming peripheral openings intermediate said contacts.  
     
     
         10 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms proximate said central bulge and said central mound, said shank conforming to said upper midsole, thereby forming at least one cavity between said upper midsole and said lower midsole.  
     
     
         11 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said at least one cavity opens at said first edge and second edge.  
     
     
         12 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said upper midsole and said shank extend forward beyond said lower midsole.  
     
     
         13 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein a pair of said contacts is located forward of said central mound, one laterally, the other medially, and wherein said lower midsole includes a front edge indented rearward from said pair of contacts to said central mound.  
     
     
         14 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shank contacts said central mound over a first surface area, said shank contacts said central bulge over a second surface area, and said second surface area is at least twice said first surface area.  
     
     
         15 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shank contacts said central mound over a first surface area, said shank contacts said central bulge over a second surface area, and said second surface area is at least four times said first surface area.  
     
     
         16 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said shank contacts said central mound over a first surface area, said shank contacts said central bulge over a second surface area, and said second surface area is at least eight times said first surface area.  
     
     
         17 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said central bulge is formed of a material having a first stiffness, said central mound is formed of a material having a second stiffness substantially greater than said first stiffness, and said shank is formed of a material having a third stiffness substantially greater than said second stiffness.  
     
     
         18 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said central bulge is formed of 65 shore C durometer hardness EVA, said central mound is formed of TPU, and said shank is formed of a hard urethane resin.  
     
     
         19 . A shoe bottom heel portion, comprising of: 
 an upper midsole forming a central bulge;    a lower midsole forming a central mound; and    a shank bonded to said central bulge and to said central mound.    
     
     
         20 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said upper midsole has a first edge, said lower midsole has a second edge, and said second edge at least partially surrounds and embraces said first edge.  
     
     
         21 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes an injection or compression molded portion.  
     
     
         22 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes a piece formed of EVA or TPU.  
     
     
         23 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said upper midsole is formed of EVA of approximately 65 shore C durometer hardness, and said lower midsole is formed of TPU.  
     
     
         24 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms proximate said central bulge and said central mound, said shank conforming to said upper midsole, thereby forming at least one cavity between said upper midsole and said lower midsole.  
     
     
         25 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein said at least one cavity opens at said first edge and second edge.  
     
     
         26 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said upper midsole and said shank extend forward beyond said lower midsole.  
     
     
         27 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , said upper midsole extends forward beyond said lower midsole medially and laterally, and wherein said lower midsole includes a front edge indented rearward centrally to said central mound.  
     
     
         28 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said shank contacts said central mound over a first surface area, said shank contacts said central bulge over a second surface area, and said second surface area is at least twice said first surface area.  
     
     
         29 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said shank contacts said central mound over a first surface area, said shank contacts said central bulge over a second surface area, and said second surface area is at least four times said first surface area.  
     
     
         30 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said shank contacts said central mound over a first surface area, said shank contacts said central bulge over a second surface area, and said second surface area is at least eight times said first surface area.  
     
     
         31 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein said central bulge is formed of a material having a first stiffness, said central mound is formed of a material having a second stiffness substantially greater than said first stiffness, and said shank is formed of a material having a third stiffness substantially greater than said second stiffness.  
     
     
         32 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein said central bulge is formed of 65 shore C durometer hardness EVA, said central mound is formed of TPU, and said shank is formed of a hard urethane resin.  
     
     
         33 . A shoe bottom heel portion, comprising: 
 an upper midsole;    a lower midsole; and    a plurality of contacts of said upper midsole with said lower midsole.    
     
     
         34 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said plurality of contacts are arranged peripherally.  
     
     
         35 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said plurality of contacts include projections of one of said upper midsole and said lower midsole and indentations of the other of said upper midsole and said lower midsole.  
     
     
         36 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein said indentations receive respective ones of said projections.  
     
     
         37 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said upper midsole has a first edge, said lower midsole has a second edge, and said second edge at least partially surrounds and embraces said first edge.  
     
     
         38 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said contacts are substantially permanent.  
     
     
         39 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said contacts are adhesive.  
     
     
         40 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes an injection or compression molded portion.  
     
     
         41 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes a piece formed of EVA or TPU.  
     
     
         42 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said upper midsole is formed of EVA of approximately 65 shore C durometer hardness, and said lower midsole is formed of TPU.  
     
     
         43 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein at least one of said contacts includes a load transferring area surrounding said indentation and said projection thereof.  
     
     
         44 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 33 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms intermediate said contacts, thereby forming peripheral openings intermediate said contacts.  
     
     
         45 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 42 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms, one of said upper midsole and said lower midsole having a central bulge, the other thereof having a central mound opposing and proximate said central bulge, thereby forming at least one cavity between said upper midsole and said lower midsole.  
     
     
         46 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein said at least one cavity opens at said first edge and second edge.  
     
     
         47 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 42 , wherein said upper midsole extends forward beyond said lower midsole.  
     
     
         48 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 46 , wherein a pair of said contacts is located forward of said central mound, one laterally, the other medially, and wherein said lower midsole includes a front edge indented rearward from said pair of contacts to said central mound.  
     
     
         49 . A shoe bottom heel portion, comprising: 
 an upper midsole;    a lower midsole; and    a plurality of contacts of said upper midsole with said lower midsole, said contacts being arranged peripherally,    said contacts including projections of one of said upper midsole and said lower midsole and indentations of the other of said upper midsole and said lower midsole, and    said indentations receive respective ones of said projections.    
     
     
         50 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein said upper midsole has a first edge, said lower midsole has a second edge, and said second edge at least partially surrounds and embraces said first edge.  
     
     
         51 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein said contacts are substantially permanent.  
     
     
         52 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein said contacts are adhesive.  
     
     
         53 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes an injection or compression molded portion.  
     
     
         54 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein said upper midsole and said lower midsole each includes a piece formed of EVA or TPU.  
     
     
         55 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein said upper midsole is formed of EVA of approximately 65 shore C durometer hardness, and said lower midsole is formed of TPU.  
     
     
         56 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , wherein at least one of said contacts includes a load transferring area surrounding said indentation and said projection thereof.  
     
     
         57 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 49 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms intermediate said contacts, thereby forming peripheral openings intermediate said contacts.  
     
     
         58 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 55 , said upper midsole and said lower midsole having opposing concave forms, one of said upper midsole and said lower midsole having a central bulge, the other thereof having a central mound opposing and proximate said central bulge, thereby forming at least one cavity between said upper midsole and said lower midsole.  
     
     
         59 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 57 , wherein said at least one cavity opens at said first edge and second edge.  
     
     
         60 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 55 , wherein said upper midsole extends forward beyond said lower midsole.  
     
     
         61 . A shoe bottom heel portion as set forth in  claim 59 , wherein a pair of said contacts is located forward of said central mound, one laterally, the other medially, and wherein said lower midsole includes a front edge indented rearward from said pair of contacts to said central mound.